In quite young individuals where the teeth are newly erupting the proximal surfaces of the teeth meet at a contact point.This contact point gets converted into an area as it broadens and increases in size as a result of frictional wear of one proximal surface against another during physiologic movement of the teeth.

The proximal contact of all the teeth in the same dental arch and their interdigitation through occlusal contact with the opposing teeth stabilizes and maintains the integrity of the dental arches.

It prevents the food from packing in between the teeth and thereby preventing the impingement to the gingival tissues.

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CONTACT TAPERING SQUARE OVOID 1. Between incisors Contact starts at the incisal ridge incisally and a little towards the labial , labiolingually . Starts at incisal ridge incisally and in line with it labiolingually.

DEFINITION It is the term used to denote some degree of convexities and concavities on the facial/buccal and lingual surfaces of all the teeth that affords protection to the supporting tissues during mastication.

FACIAL AND LINGUAL CONVEXITIES Convex contours on the facial and lingual surfaces of the teeth afford protection and stimulation to the supporting structures during mastication.

FACIAL AND LINGUAL CONCAVITIES Concavities occlusal to the height of contour are involved in the occlusal static and dynamic relations as they determine the pathways for teeth into and out of centric occlusion.

PROXIMAL CONTOURS ADJACENT TO THE CONTACT AREA Proximal contours adjacent to the contact areas are “V” shaped spaces also called as embrasures.Embrasures serve as a pathway for the passage of food which is passed to the occlusal surfaces by the movement of the facial tissues and tongue.

According to their general shape ,teeth can be divided into three types:- 1) Tapering teeth contours The proximal contours of the tapering type of the teeth has one common feature:starting at the cemento-enamel junction , the surface presents a concavity almost to the contact areas and they are decidedly convex from there to the crest of the marginal ridges.The concavities are more pronounced on the mesial surface than on the distal surface.

2) Square type teeth contours The proximal contours of these type teeth have a tendency to become a plane instead of a curved surface.Bucco-lingual concavities are found occassionally on the mesial surface of maxillary first premolar,first and second molars.The distal surface are generally either flat or slightly convex from the buccal to lingual surface.The convexities which creates the marginal ridges disappear at the contact and the remainder of the surface is usually flat.

The proximal contours are decidedly convex from incisal angle to the cervix.Bicuspids of the ovoid type are frequently bell shaped with the convex surface running from the crests of the marginal ridges to the cervix and likewise convex from the buccal to the lingual axial angles . The mesial surface of this type of molars presents convex areas which are less extensive than those found on the distal . The distal surfaces are usually convex in all directions .

Overcontoured curvatures can create a favourable environment for the accumulation and growth of cariogenic and plaque bacteria at gingival margin , apical to the height of contour .This further results in chronic inflammation of gingiva . Fig

Deficient or dislocated concavities can lead to premature contacts during mandibular movements which could inhibit the physiologic capabilities of these movements .